Bill barring Port Authority badges for officials advances

TRENTON, N.J. (AP) — New Jersey lawmakers have advanced a measure that would bar official badges for Port Authority of New York and New Jersey officials like the one a former commissioner was caught on camera using in a traffic stop.

The Democrat-led Senate Transportation Committee approved the measure Thursday. The bill bars New Jersey Transit and the Port Authority from issuing badges that can be mistaken for law enforcement to board members. It comes about five months after video surfaced showing former Port Authority Commissioner Caren Turner delivering an at-times profane speech to a police officer during a traffic stop in Tenafly. She resigned this year and apologized over the incident. The Port Authority operates New York area airports, bridges and tunnels. New York would have to implement identical legislation for the bill to take effect.